Plastic container and valves for storing and dispensing pressurized products



Aug. 1, 1967 F. c. MEYERS PLASTIC CONTAINER AND VALVES FOR STORNG AND DISPENSING PRESSURIZED PRODUCTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. ll 1966 TNVENTOR lwfafwova/s 5v5/P5,

ATTORNEYS Aug. l, 1967 F. C. MEYERS PLASTIC CONTAINER AND VALVES FOR STORING AND DISPENSING PRESSURIZED PRODUCTS Filed Jan. ll 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LL uml L- Ml' INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 1, 1967 F. c. MEYERS 3,333,743

PLASTIC CONTAINER AND VALVES FOR STORING AND DISPENSNG PRESSURIZED PRODUCTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. ll 1966 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 1, 1967 r c. MEYERS 3,333,743

PLASTIC CONTAINER AND VALVES FOR STORING AND DISPENSING PRESSURIZED PRODUCTS Filed Jan, l1 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Unted States Patent O 3,333,743 PLASTIC CONTAINER AND VALVES FOR STORING AND DISPENSING PRESSUR- IZED PRGDUCTS Frederick Charles Meyers, 916 Cole Drive,

Brielle, NJ. 08730 Filed Jari. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 535,256 4 Claims. (Cl. Z22-402.1)

This disclosure relates to containers for pressurized products and to a dispensing valve structure for use with the same.

`An aerosol is a suspension of line, solid or liquid particles in a gas. Many products are packaged and sold on todays market as aerosols. A typical aerosol container is made of metal to withstand the high internal pressures produced by the gas vehicle used to effect the valved discharge of the packaged product.

The aerosol containers used on todays market are relatively expensive to manufacture, but this is not the main drawback to their use. The chief disadvantage of metal containers for aerosol products is the safety hazard involved. When the product packaged in the metal aerosol container is exhausted a substantial amount of gas usually remains. If the container is subjected to heat, this gas expands to the point where the container will burst. An aerosol container accidentally thrown on a pile of burning trash or rubbish can become a lethal weapon, since it will produce an explosion similar to a bomb. For this reason, extreme safety precautions must be taken in handling and storing typical metal aerosol containers.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to produce an aerosol container which presents no safety hazard when subjected to intense heat or ame.

It is another object of this invention to provide an aerosol container which is relatively cheap and easily manufactured.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a plastic aerosol container which will soften and gently burst upon the application of heat of an intensity which would otherwise cause an extreme pressure rise within the container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a reinforced container structure which is readily moldable from a variety of suitable plastic materials.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simplified valve structure which facilitates the use of economical manufacturing techniques and enables the container to be lled readily after manufacture.

In accordance with the invention these objects are realized in a plastic container which includes a hollow body member having a longitudinal axis. Top and bottom closure members are provided for the hollow body member, and, if desired, the bottom closure member may be formed integrally with the hollow body member. The bottom closure member is concave in shape and has a transverse rib member to provide additional reinforcement. On the external surface of the hollow body member longitudinally disposed ribs are spaced to dene support members which add to the rigidity of the container and permit relatively thin dimensions of the wall so that the body may be made of moldable plastic. A novel valve structure facilitates the manufacturing process and enables the container to be filled readily after manufacture.

The valve member comprises a resilient annular disc having a spherical-like central portion and a ring-like outer rim. The outer rim is discontinuous because of a plurality of slots or grooves which serve as passageways for the internal contents of the container to escape through the valve opening. The spherical-like center portion seals-olf the contents of the container by virtue of the internal pressure of the container, which forces the spherical-like cen- 3,333,743 Patented Aug. l, 1967 rice tral portion against the opening in the top closure member which serves as the dispensing passageway.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a rst embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the container of FIG. 1 with the bottom closure member removed;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the container of FIG. 1 with the bottom closure member in position;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 taken from the bottom;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through the cap member showing the top valve member;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 taken from the bottom With the bottom closure member removed;

FIG. 9 is an elevation of a resilient Valve member constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the valve member of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled valve constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a second Valve structure constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The invention will be understood more readily by referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings which represents the rst embodiment of the invention. A hollow cylinder 1 forms the main body of the container provided with end closure members 3 and 5. lEnd closure member 3 is concave inwardly in shape and has a reinforcing rib 7, which adds structural rigidity. A dip-tube assembly shown generally at 9 is located in the container body in conventional fashion to serve in dispensing the pressurized contents.

A plurality of external rib members, such as 11, are formed on the circumferential surface of the container body 1. By means of this structural arrangement, the walls of the container body 1 are reinforced to an extent such that conventional blow molding and injection molding techniques may be used to form thin plastic cylinders which otherwise would not withstand the high internal pressures of aerosol mixtures.

FIGS. 4 to 6 of the drawings show a second embodiment of the invention in which a container body 13 is molded of plastic material, and is providedv with a plurality of longitudinal ribs 15 to 18, thereby strengthening the wall and compensating for the relatively thin dimension of the general wall structure. An additional circumferential rib 19 is provided to add rigidity and facilitate the handling of the container.

FIG. 7 shows a plastic container body having internal partitions 21 to 24 to provide the requisite rigidity. The dip-tube in this embodiment is formed integrally with the radial partitions. In this embodiment the concave bottom closure member 25 has an interior recessed portion 27 which permits communication of the contents of the interior among the partitioned sections. A transverse external rib 29 serves to support the bottom closure member 25.

FIGS. 9 through l2 of the drawings relate to a novel valve structure for use in aerosol container structures of conventional design as Well as the present aerosol container structure set forth in this application. The main valve member is a resilient disc member of annular con- Vfing .'me'niber 45.4 The.. seal is further aided by the internal 'i figprlationf shown' inN elevationand cross-sectional views in FIGS; .anrdgll The disc metnlserl. basa ball-like .cen-A tralportion 3,3 and an outer ring-like rim portion 35. A

r-connectingmembrane 37 of lesser thickness to provide the I ile'xibilitymecessary connects the outer and central portions'f. Agpluralitypf, cutout,portions, ,such as ,shown at ber 47 is securedtovthe under surface of closure member 45 .,by. suitable means such as sonic welding. This locks valve member 31 'in'positi'omrand the resilient material -froinwhich theyalve member 31 ,is constructed A causstlie ball-like central portion 33 to be urged in sealrelationship ,tov the orifice -located in top closure pressureofthe contents in .the'containen The flanged reaiiiei" member 47 'h'olds'the outer rim 35 -so that the spaeed-apartjsidesrof the cut-out portions 39 are held in s. ,relationship `a t the 4outer circumference of the Vvrim 35,.

.T he .valve, is opened-by means of valve actuator 41l A downward movementof valve actuator 41 causes the ball-like 4central portion 33 of the valve member to disvengage the aperture, and permits the fluid contents of the containento be .propelled through the cut-out portions 39 of the valve member 31 and out through the orifice. Valve actuator member 41 contains a slot 51 to permit passage of the iluid contents to the exterior of the con-v tainer.

The action of the valve member is variable by means of the -downward pressure on'valve actuator 41. Since the sides of the cut-out portions 39 are held in spacedapart relationship by the anged retainer member 47, it will be appreciated thatrthe cut-outportions 39 of the valve member '31 will be enlarged as the valve member is stretched and distended by the downward action of valvenactuatonmember 41. This action may be further enhanced by using cut-out portions of shapes diierent fromthat shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, which is meant to be onlyfillustrative ofone type of cut-out portionwhichv will function satisfactorily.

Any suitable plastic material may be chosen from which to mold the containers'- of the present invention. One .criterion tobe considered is the melting point of 4the particulary plastic. It is desirable to choose a plastic having a melting point such that a temperature tending to cause excessively high pressures of the aerosol contents will also produce a softening of the plastic. The softened plastic will permit the container to distort into extended configuration until finally the thin walls gently burst to allow escape of the contents without explosion or violent aftermath, as would be'expected from normal aerosol containers. In this fashion the safety hazard presented by conventional metal aerosol containers is completely eliminated, and a container is provided which is inexpensive and easily manufactured.

The external rib structure employed strengthens the container to the point where it is commercially feasible to produce these plastic containers by conventional processes such as blow molding and injection molding. The strength and rigidity imparted to the container by the external ribbing of the present invention makes the container constructed of thin wall plastic entirely adequate and suitable for the intended purpose insofar as structural strength is concerned. At the same time the materialY 1 circumference; et i the'.I

readily distorts in the presence of heat to eliminate theY safety hazard previously explained.

While the invention has been shown and described with particular reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form andrdetails may be made without departing `from 'thespiriL and scope vof.` the. invention.

' What is claimed ist' Y 1. A vplastic 'container for-pressurized products cornprising a hollow body member having a longitudinal axis, a top closure member, a bottom closure member, valve means' for discharging the pressurized products, v said valvemeans comprising anannular resilient valve member having a ball-like central portion and an outer 'rim portion,

' said outer rim portion beingdiscontinuous and having at least one cut-o ut portion with spaced-apart sides therein,

.means for securing said outer rim'portlonso that the spaced-apartfsides of said cut-out portion are -held in fixedl relationshipv at the outer circumference of said outer rim po'rtiou,'and a plurality of longitudinally disposed rib members extern'al tosaid hollow body'member'to strengthen said hollow body member against the pressure exerted by v said pressurized products, whereby-said hollow bodymember can be constructed of moldable plastic.v y 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said bottom closure member is of concave configuration and includes and external rib member extending transversely of said closure member to provide reinforcement.V 3. TheV combination according to claim 1 wherein I Y said longitudinal rib members are tapered in thickness.' 4. A container assembly for `dispensing pressurized contents comprising a hollow body member,

a bottom closure member, a top closure member wi surface,

an `opening in said top closure member for the passage Y of the container contents, Iand Y i a valve memberpfor closingl said opening,

said valve member comprising a resilient annular f disc member having a ball-like central portion 'i portion inrxed relationship at the outer circumference of said outer rim portion,

whereby the area of said cut-out portion will increase` when said ball-like central portion is depressed tow provide a variable ow through said valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,483 ,993 10/ 1949 Becker 222-394 X 2,512,105 `6/ 1950 Kooij 222--394 X Y2,799,435 7/ 1957 Abplanalp 222-394 FOREIGN PATENTS 205,116 4/ 1955 Australia.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

F. R. HANDR-EN, Assistant Examiner.

h a substantially fiat under- 

1. A PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR PRESSURIZED PRODUCTS COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS, A TOP CLOSURE MEMBER, A BOTTOM CLOSURE MEMBER, VALVE MEANS FOR DISCHARGING THE PRESSURIZED PRODUCTS, SAID VALVE MEANS COMPRISING AN ANNULAR RESILIENT VALVE MEMBER HAVING A BALL-LIKE CENTRAL PORTION AND AN OUTER RIM PORTION, SAID OUTER RIM PORTION BEING DISCONTINUOUS AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE CUT-OUT PORTION WITH SPACED-APART SIDES THEREIN, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID OUTER RIM PORTION SO THAT THE SPACED-APART SIDES OF SAID CUT-OUT PORTION ARE HELD IN FIXED RELATIONSHIP AT THE OUTER CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID OUTER RIM PORTION, AND A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED RIB MEMBERS EXTERNAL TO SAID HOLLOW BODY MEMBER TO STRENGTHEN SAID HOLLOW BODY MEMBER AGAINST THE PRESSURE EXERTED BY SAID PRESSURIZED PRODUCTS, WHEREBY SAID HOLLOW BODY MEMBER CAN BE CONSTRUCTED OF MOLDABLE PLASTIC. 